§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will support a reference to the Competition Commission in respect of the policy of Safeway to require a £20,000 contribution per product line from suppliers in return for guaranteed shelf space. [99323]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Competition Commission is already investigating the supply of groceries from supermarkets. The Commission's terms of reference would allow them to investigate relationships between supermarkets and their suppliers. The exact scope of investigations is a matter for the Commission.
The nature of the relationship between the supermarkets and their suppliers was flagged up as an area of concern by the Director General of Fair Trading in his press notice announcing the reference.